Peri mused, "Though the cavemen are not as strong as the highland giants, I heard that they are very agile. Some of the larger tribes are good at craftsmanship. They are born craftsmen, which is very useful for building a city. The more preparation we have, the more pawns we can use in the future. Medanzo should keep an eye out for this. I didn't expect to find something unexpected here. "
While Princess Sissila and Peri were chatting in private, in another courtyard of the town, two other people were also having a private conversation. Gekait turned to Prince Benut, "Your Highness, don't you think it's a little strange?"
Benut nodded, "The giants are asking for the materials for moving, which means they have planned this long ago. These people are so strong that they can carry heavy materials through the mountains. They besieged Princess Sissila and demanded these materials from the town. Her Highness seems to know what they are planning. "
Gekait thought for a while, "Ussir led the crowd to accept the princess's mission. It's as if everything was planned. Your Highness, should we send someone to follow the highland giants to see where they are moving to and what they are planning? "
Benut shook his head, "They are long gone. It's impossible to catch up with them in the deep mountains. We just need to mind our own business. No matter what the others are planning, we shouldn't act rashly. Gekait, I know what you are thinking. But you don't have to say it out loud. "
Seeing that the prince had seen through his thoughts, Gekait smiled bitterly, "Then I won't say more. It's good that Your Highness knows what to do. This time, the Princess was able to successfully escape, or rather, we did not get involved in the chaotic battle. It was all because of one person's efforts.
Benut also smiled, "Tich Zhou, the mayor of Arcade, is indeed a talented man. I can see that Princess Sissila is trying to win him over. I think we should thank him for that. I'll go to the city of Kish and ask the mayor to recommend him to be the deputy director of the finance department. Though I can't ask the mayor directly, it shouldn't be a problem for me to recommend him. "
"So you're not going to the Euphrate River to see the battlefield?" asked Gekait.
Benut said, "The battlefield is right there. You can go whenever you want. Since our identities have been revealed, let's deal with the matter at hand first and escort the princess back to the capital. She will also have to pass through the city of Kish. I think the princess wants to invite Tich to her own city-state to take care of government affairs, and I'll promote him in my own city-state. I think Tich would be more willing. "
At this point, he frowned and said, "The two warriors, Medanzo and Amon, are real warriors and very capable. They walked further than us, but they were able to get to the designated position in the dark of the night. We can't underestimate them. After all, they fought side by side. This is a good opportunity to show that they are close to the people. Treat them to a meal today. "
Gekait nodded and said, "Alright, I'll immediately order people to prepare a banquet and send someone to invite them."
Prince Benut suddenly remembered something and said, "Not long ago, I heard from Uruk that a sorcerer killed one of Humbaba's rebellious descendants while crossing the river. Gilgamesh and Enkidu used this as an excuse to kill Humbaba. Send someone to Uruk on horseback and ask the boatman in private what the sorcerer's staff looked like. Was it a tree branch? "
Gekait was surprised, "Do you suspect that Amon is the sorcerer?"
Benut explained, "Under the leadership of a brilliant mage like you, we managed to cross the plateau at night. What about them? It's just my intuition that Amon is the sorcerer. As for the truth, we'll know once we ask him. "
"If it's him, are you going to expose his identity?" asked Gekait.
Benut shook his head, "I'm just curious. I know what's going on. Gilgamesh didn't make things difficult for him when he was on the ferry. And this time in Arcade, he cooperated with us to save Princess Sissila. Why should we make things difficult for him? "
… …
When Amon and Medanzo returned to the inn, they told each other about their meeting with Princess Sissila. They were glad that the sorcerer's identity had not been exposed. Amon smiled and said to Medanzo, "I'm glad to see you recovering from your pain. You're so excited and enthusiastic now. Congratulations on regaining your noble status. But you look a little infatuated. You've been staring at Princess Sissila the whole way. "
Medanzo answered awkwardly, "Amun, what are you talking about? I only admire and worship Princess Sissila. From now on, she's my idol."
Amon patted his shoulder and said, "Good, very good. Follow your idol back to Bablon City the day after tomorrow."
Medanzo hurriedly explained, "Amon, you're my only god. I only admire Princess Sissila. Of course, I'll follow your guidance and follow you."
Amon said, "I know what you're thinking. Princess Sissila is charming and she's repaid you. It's only human nature that you're willing to serve her. It's not that you want to leave, it's that I want you to follow Princess Sissila back to the capital. We planned to part ways after crossing the Euphrate River. I brought you along because I was worried that something might happen to you.
I'll teach you the way of cultivation in the future. With your noble status, it'll be more convenient for you to practice. You should go back to the capital first. Take care of your own business and come find me at Link's place. Let's set a deadline. One year from today, we will meet in Lynk's tribe. "
As they were discussing the time and place for their next meeting, someone came to inform them that Prince Benut had invited them to a banquet. Medanzo asked in a low voice, "The prince is inviting us to dinner. Shall we go?" Amon answered, "We've fought side by side. It's not a big deal to have dinner together. Come, let's go."
… …
That night, Amon taught Medanzo the rest of the cultivation of the power of two sides until he reached the peak of the sixth-level magic and sixth-level body arts. Then he left the town of Arcade. During the banquet, Prince Benut asked them where they were going. Medanzo said that he was going back to the capital with Princess Sissila, while Amon said that he was going to a faraway place. Since it had already been delayed, they had to leave immediately.
Amon left the town at night and headed west towards the Euphrate River. He walked for a long time on the mountain road. After making sure that no one was following him, he turned back to the north. As he climbed higher and higher in the mountains, he returned to the tribe of the giants on the plateau.
It was a long and dangerous road. Amon hurried as fast as he could. By the next morning, he arrived at the plateau where he had negotiated with Ussir. The tent made of snow leopard skin was long gone. There was no one around. Where was the tribe of the highlanders?
Amon looked around and saw faint black smoke rising from three different directions behind the distant mountains. The giants had burned down their village. Which village was Yoon Namna waiting for him? While Amon was hesitating, he suddenly heard a series of bell-like laughter behind him.
Yoon Namna's voice came from not far away, "My little Amon, handsome hunter, brave hero, you've kept your promise and found this place as promised."
Amon had been using detection magic to keep an eye on the surroundings, but he didn't notice Yoon Namna's arrival. This meant that Yoon Namna's magic was much better than his. Amon turned around and saw Yoon Namna standing a dozen steps away with a faint smile on her face. She was wearing a long golden dress and her long hair was hanging loosely over her shoulders. The long dress had a different luster, like starlight or water. It wrapped around her beautiful body and made her look very attractive.
Amon leaned on his staff and bowed to her, "You said you'd come back for me, and you've come."
Yoon Namna covered her mouth, "Oh, Amon, you're my savior. Why are you talking to me so politely? Don't you know who Yoon Namna is? Why did you get involved in Princess Sissila's trouble? "
Amon told the truth, "Saving Princess Sissila is not a big deal. The princess has her own ways to escape. But I saw you with my own eyes when you left with Gilgamesh. I thought you were his fiancée, Princess Sissila. "
Inanna let out a burst of happy laughter. Her skirt swayed as she laughed, "So that's what happened, my little Amon. You are so cute. People always beg for my redemption, but no one has ever saved me. You're the first one who said that and did it. It's a misunderstanding, but I'm very happy. I'll never forget your kindness. "
Amon hurriedly explained, "No, you've helped me before. Enkidu knows that I'm a sorcerer, but he told me that it was because of your protection that I was able to pass through Uruk safely. You made up for the loss on the ferry. He didn't make things difficult for me."
His expression was solemn as he spoke. He did not approach Yoon Namna. Inanna put away her smile, looked at him and sighed softly, "From the looks of it, it seems like you already know my identity."
Amon replied respectfully, "Yes, I guessed it. But I want to ask you personally. Are you Mourin, the former patron saint of Duc?"
Yoon Namna stared at him for a long time without any expression. Gradually, a smile appeared on her face, "My little Amon, you're really a clever lamb. How did you guess it? I'm not only the patron saint of Duc, but also the patron saint of the people of Duc. You're the lost lamb in my flock. I've finally found you. "
Amon replied, "I've seen your statues since I was a child. But when I saw you in person, I didn't even dare to think about it. When I saw your statue in the temple of Arcade, I suddenly realized why I felt that you looked so familiar at first. Later, when I found out that you weren't Princess Sissila, I guessed that you might be Mourin. But the conclusion was so shocking that I couldn't believe it unless you confirmed it yourself. "
Yoon Namna nodded with a smile, "Now that you've confirmed it, why don't you salute to the patron saint?"
Amon didn't kneel immediately. He thought for a moment and asked, "Duc is no longer here. Maybe it's not your fault, but I have a question."
Yoon Namna was stunned, "Ask away."
Amon asked, "The oracle that almost cut off one of my fingers, was it left by you?"
Yoon Namna answered calmly, "I left it. It's the oracle of the patron saint of Duc. Duc is my realm. Although the gods can see everything clearly, it is impossible for them to pay attention to everyone and everything in the realm all the time. You almost had a finger cut off in front of my shrine. I didn't know about it until after the fact. … Why, do you hate me because of this? "
Amon asked again, "Since the gods can see everything clearly, do you know what I'm thinking about?"
Inanna looked at him, her eyes seemed to be more and more interested, but she still answered calmly, "As a god, I know your emotions, anger, sorrow, and joy, and every emotion hidden in your heart. I also know your body's reaction, even the slightest trace. I can tell if you're lying, but I can't directly know what you're thinking. To show your loyalty to the patron saint, tell me yourself. "
Amon replied, "I don't hate you. On the contrary, I salute you for the oracle, because someone explained to me the origin of the divine spirit. Otherwise, why should I kneel to the patron saint who doesn't protect the people of Duc anymore? " He knelt down and kissed the soil on the ground. This was the most solemn etiquette on the continent. In the past, when his drunkard father brought Amon to the shrine to see Mourin, he also saluted like this.
Yoon Namna's expression was a little awkward. Her expression changed a few times, but finally, she showed a charming smile. She walked over and reached out her hand to help Amon up from the ground. She naturally held his arm. Her soft and elastic chest was pressed against his arm, just like the two of them used to stroll in the grassland.
The goddess smiled and said, "My Amon, this is not the shrine, and there is no one around. You don't have to salute me like that. We used to hold hands like this. Doesn't it feel good? You're still the hunter in the mountains, and I'm still the shepherdess. "
Who said it didn't feel good? It was good, very good. Amon held Yoon Namna's arm and said, "But you are a god after all. I find it incredible." If this scene was seen by others, they would be so surprised that their jaws would drop to the ground. Amon was holding a goddess's arm and talking calmly. Even the world-shaking hero Gilgamesh was no better than this. But Amon was just an ordinary boy from the countryside.
Yoon Namna was very satisfied with Amon's performance. She naughtily rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and pointed to the front, "You still salute me, so I am still the guardian of you and your people. I called you here today because I have something important to tell you. Look at this."
Following the direction of her finger, Amon sensed a strong wave of magic power. In the open space not far away, the light was distorted and a strange space appeared. There were lights and shadows constantly flashing in the space.
Flood, monstrous water converged into a rolling turbid stream, spreading over the hills, the fields and the desert. It was a miniature display of the terrain. Judging from the surrounding mountains above the water, it was the landscape around Duc. The scene in the light and shadow was obviously accelerated. The flood gradually calmed down and formed a huge lake in the area around Duc.
The water gradually receded, exposing the damp muddy ground in the high places. Muddy swamps were everywhere. The town of Duc no longer existed. In the Charcoal Forest to the west, strange rocks, shrubs and ponds dotted the large swamp. It was impossible to pass through. The water stopped receding after a certain amount because it often rained. The climate had changed.
To the north of this large swamp was the Syah Plateau, and to the east were the mountains of the Euphrate Valley. They were still natural barriers. One of the tributaries of the Euphrate River was cut off by landslides during the flood. It flowed through the swamp to the Syah Desert in the south and converged into a large inland lake in a low-lying area. To the south of this lake was still the desolate Gobi Desert, far away from the Empire of Eygut and the Kingdom of Bablon.
To the north of the lake, grass gradually grew. Patches of grassland appeared in the swamp like islands. Looking around, it was still a forbidden land surrounded by the swamp. But near the lofty mountains of the Euphrate Valley, patches of fertile land, like islands, had emerged from the surface of the water. The light and shadows stopped here. This should be the actual topography of the land.
Yoon Nam-Na snapped her fingers and the image disappeared. She held Amon's arm in her arms and asked, "Do you see what it is?"
Amon recovered from the amazing scene and answered after a short breath, "The terrain around Duc after the flood."
Yoon Nam-Na nodded, "That's what your hometown looks like now. It is still changing slowly. In two or three years, it will become a thousand miles of fertile land surrounded by mountains, plateaus, swamps and deserts. It is still a swamp. Large groups of people can't enter it. Only a few patches of fertile land near the Euphrate Valley can be planted to build villages and towns. Amon, do you know where the highlanders went? What did Princess Sissila send them to do? "
Amon seemed to have woken up from a dream, "I see. They crossed the highlands, crossed the Euphrate River and passed through the mountains to build a new home. Princess Sissila asked them to submit to the Kingdom of Bablon and build the Marduc Shrine in their new home. She is expanding the territory of the Hittite Kingdom. "
Inanna added with satisfaction, "This is the only way to enter the fertile land. The highland giant tribe can carry heavy supplies and travel long distances in the mountains. They are not afraid of danger and arrive first. They can quietly build a village in an isolated, uninhabited wilderness. In the future, they may even build a city state."
Amon exclaimed, "She is indeed a princess. She is so far-sighted. But isn't she afraid of provoking a dispute with the Hittite Kingdom?"
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